A descriptive study of mental health professionals' perceptions of adolescent non-suicidal self-injury

Pike, Sarah

A descriptive study of mental health professionals' perceptions of adolescent non-suicidal self-injury

Thesis / Dissertation

2026

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Social Development

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

This research describes mental health professionals' perceptions of adolescent non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). The aim of the study was to ascertain; whether NSSI was present in the practices of mental health professionals based in Cape Town, South Africa, how it most commonly manifested, how mental health professionals theoretically understood NSSI, their best treatment practices, and how they were personally affected by working with adolescents who engage in NSSI. The study used a qualitative methodology and descriptive design to gather data from a sample of fourteen participants from varying professions and contexts within the mental health field and working specifically with adolescent clients. The participants were sought out using both purposive and snowball sampling techniques and a semi-structured interview guide was used to conduct interviews with them. Once data saturation was reached, the researcher analysed the data using thematic analysis. The analysis of the data found that adolescent NSSI was present in all the practices of the participants, with onset during early adolescence or puberty. Parents were found to be largely unaware of the NSSI behaviour because the adolescent felt shame and therefore hid the marks and scars. Ritualised cutting on arms and legs, using easily accessible implementations, was the most common manifestation of NSSI. The participants noted that NSSI was engaged with to regulate affect and to communicate distress. It was discovered that providing alternative coping mechanisms to the adolescent and psychoeducation to the family were the best treatment options to curb NSSI engagement. The mental health professionals indicated a resiliency to adolescent NSSI that often masked vicarious trauma, however.

Keywords

non-suicidal self-injury

adolescents

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Masters

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